After his retirement in 1990 he became a professional wrestler for a number of organizations including Super World of Sports, WAR, Pro Wrestling Crusaders and IWA Japan.
[1] Despite his family having a background in professional wrestling he took part in many regional sumo competitions in elementary and junior high school.
He had a muscular build quite unlike other sumo wrestlers, but despite his weight disadvantage he managed to reach the jūryō division in May 1987 and was ranked there for 20 consecutive tournaments, with a 141-159 win/loss record.
Although his elder brother was active in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Ishinriki instead joined SWS, making his debut in January 1991 in a match against Jeff Jarrett in Dallas, Texas.
He married a fellow professional wrestler from WAR, Hozumi Shige [ja] and opened a chankonabe and karaoke restaurant in Kichijōji in 1994.
Their sons, Riki and Ishin, are also professional wrestlers who made their debuts at a Dragon Gate tournament in Ōta, Tokyo on September 20, 2021.